Humanist Leader Convicted of Blasphemy Freed – Safety Concerns Persist
"The authorities must guarantee the safety of Mubarak Bala, who continues to face death threats," says Stefanus Alliance International.
Mubarak Bala spent nearly five years in prison following blasphemy charges.
Written by Johannes Morken and CSW. First published on Stefanus.no 01.09.2025
On January 7, Mubarak Bala, the President of the Nigerian Humanist Association, was released from prison in Kano State, according to CSW, a partner organization of Stefanus Alliance International.
Bala was arrested at his home in Kaduna State on April 28, 2020, following a police report filed by a law firm accusing him of insulting Islam in Facebook posts.
For the first 162 days of his detention, Bala was held incommunicado. He spent 462 days in prison before formal charges were brought against him. During this time, Stefanus Alliance International appealed on his behalf to the Nigerian Embassy in Stockholm, citing threats to his life.
On April 5, 2022, Bala was sentenced to 24 years in prison by the Kano State High Court. Stefanus Alliance International issued another appeal to the Nigerian ambassador in Stockholm, urging Bala’s immediate release and relocation to a safe place where his security could be guaranteed by the authorities.
On May 13, 2024, an appellate court in Kano State ruled that the 24-year sentence was excessive and unlawful, reducing it to five years.
Now, Bala is free—four and three-quarters years after his arrest and more than six months after his sentence was reduced.
"We welcome Mubarak Bala’s release. His arrest and conviction violated Nigeria’s constitution and its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression, thought, conscience, religion, and belief," said Johannes Morken of Stefanus Alliance International and Mervyn Thomas of CSW.
They added:
"We now call on Nigerian authorities to ensure Bala’s safety so that he can enjoy his freedom without further harassment. We continue to urge Nigeria to repeal its blasphemy law, which fuels religious extremism, and to bring its legal practices in line with constitutional and international obligations."
In a statement to BBC Africa, Bala expressed gratitude for his release but acknowledged the ongoing risks to his life. He is currently residing in a safe house.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) also welcomed Bala’s release.
"Mubarak Bala’s release corrects a grave miscarriage of justice. No one should serve 24 years—or any time—in prison for a nonviolent social media post," said USCIRF Commissioner Vicky Hartzler.
USCIRF continues to call on the U.S. government to add Nigeria to its list of "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPC) for "systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom."